Man Utd set to offload Van Persie

Starsport understands United boss Louis van Gaal has deemed the striker surplus to requirements at Old Trafford.

United chief executive Ed Woodward will now listen to offers for the Holland hitman and look to sell him to the highest bidder.

Van Persie stunned the Premier League in 2012 when he quit Arsenal to join United in a £24m deal.

Sir Alex Ferguson made him his last major signing before retiring as United boss and it proved to be a masterstroke.

Van Persie was a revelation in his first campaign, plundering 30 goals in all competitions to help United win the Premier League title.

But he was left shocked when Fergie announced his retirement and has struggled to hit the same heights since.

He scored 18 goals last season despite struggling to get on with David Moyes, and has just 10 this time round under Van Gaal.

Van Persie has suffered injuries and a loss of form this season to become a peripheral figure at Old Trafford.

Van Gaal snubbed his fellow Dutchman to make Wayne Rooney United captain and Van Persie has spent the last six weeks on the sidelines with damaged ankle ligaments.

The 31-year-old will be entering the final 12 months of his contract this summer and there have been no moves to offered him a new deal.

United bosses are reluctant to let him run down his £200,000-a-week contract and leave Old Trafford for nothing at the end of the 2015-16 season.

Van Gaal would prefer to sell Van Persie for a cut-price fee this summer and get him off the wage bill as he looks to strengthen his squad once again.

The former Holland boss has been promised another £150m to spend and has made PSG striker Edinson Cavani one of his main transfer targets.

Van Persie, who is expected to miss this weekend’s crunch derby showdown with Manchester City at Old Trafford, favours a return to Holland to end his career there if United receive an acceptable offer.